Brighton 2-3 AEK Athens: Joao Pedro double in vain as Greek side snatch late winner in UEFA Europa League clash
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Updated 21/09/2023 at 23:01 GMT
Brighton’s first taste of European football ended in disappointment with a 3-2 loss to AEK Athens in the UEFA Europa League. Djibril Sidibe and Mijat Gacinovic scored goals for the Greek side either side of a first-half penalty from Joao Pedro for Brighton. The Seagulls trailed at the break, but a second penalty from Joao Pedro drew them level once again, only for Ezequiel Ponce to bag the winner.
Ezequiel Ponce celebrates during the UEFA Europa League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and AEK Athens at American Express Community Stadium on September 21, 2023 in Brighton, England
Image credit: Getty Images
AEK Athens ended a 46-year wait for a win over an English side as Brighton's historic European debut ended in a shock 3-2 home defeat in UEFA Europa League Group B.
Joao Pedro twice hauled Roberto De Zerbi's side – second favourites behind Premier League rivals Liverpool to win the tournament – level in a thrilling contest at the Amex from the penalty spot (30' and 67' minutes) after a powerful Djibril Sidibe header (11') and a fine Mijat Gacinovic finish (40') from set-pieces had given the visitors the lead.
Ezequiel Ponce settled the match in favour of the Greek champions when he slipped home the winner from the Niclas Eliasson pass on 84 minutes after Tariq Lamptey had taken an untimely tumble in the saturated conditions to stun the home fans.
Despite seeing 13 minutes added due to an unfortunate head injury to the influential Ehsan Hajsafi – who was carried off after playing provider for both his side's goals and fouling Joao Pedro for the concession of the first penalty – Brighton could not unearth an equaliser for a third time.
It is AEK's first win over an English opponent since they defeated QPR 3-0 in the 1977 UEFA Cup.
Brighton end the night bottom of Group B after Ajax and Marseille contested a remarkable 3-3 draw in Amsterdam.
Talking point: Why were there 11 bookings in the second half?
Referee Kristo Tohver from Estonia somehow astonishingly contrived to book 11 players, all in the second half, from a match that was fiercely competitive, but never worthy of so many yellow cards.
Brighton coach Roberto De Zerbi also picked up a booking for protesting as the actions of the referee contributed to some farcical goings on towards the end amid a rash of substitutions and 13 minutes of added time.
When match officials become a key part of the plot, it never tends to be good news, but at least the man in the middle benefited from VAR to arrive at the correct decision for the two Brighton penalty awards.
Player of the Match: Joao Pedro (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Unfortunate not to score a hat-trick, but produced an impressive forward's performance in the driving rain.
The Brazilian player earned two penalties and converted both of them to keep Brighton's hopes alive in a match where the absence of the injured Lewis Dunk in defence proved more of a problem to overcome for The Seagulls than scoring goals.
The noise in netting Brighton's historic first goal in Europe will live long in the memory.
Player Ratings
Brighton: Steele 6, Milner 6, Van Hecke 6, Igor Julio 6, Estupinan 6, March 7, Gilmour 6, Mitoma 6, Gross 7, Fati 7, Joao Pedro 8 Substitutes: Lamptey 6, Welbeck 6, Adingra 7, Bounanotte 6
AEK Athens: Stankovic 8, Szymanski 6, Amrabat 6, Jonsson 6, Garcia 7, Gacinovic 7, Araujo 7, Pineda 7, Mitoglou 7, Hajsafi 7, Sidibe 7 Substitutes: MohammadI 6, Zuber 6, Ponce 7, Eliasson 6, Mantalos 6
Match Highlights
11' GOAL FOR AEK ATHENS! A brilliant goal for the visiting side. Djibril Sidibe launches himself at the ball from a corner just inside the area and that header explodes into the corner of the net. What a glorious goal that is for the visiting side. They lead 1-0.
28' BRIGHTON COULD HAVE A PENALTY HERE VAR recommend a look at this. Joao Pedro initially booked for simulation, but Ehsan Hajsafi clearly takes him out. And the referee agrees. No yellow card for Pedro, but a pen for the home side.
30' AND BRIGHTON ARE LEVEL! Brighton have scored for their first European goal as Joao Pedro slots the ball to the 'keeper Stankovic's right as he dived left. Brighton are level at 1-1. Game on.
40' GOAL FOR AEK ATHENS! The Greek champions have restored their lead. Brilliant again from the delivery. Hajsafi throws over the free-kick from some way out and Mijat Gacinovic arrives in a packed box to slide the ball home. Amex is stunned.
64' ANOTHER PENALTY CLAIM BY BRIGHTON! And again it is Joao Pedro who goes down. Damian Szymanski with a horrid error. Awful challenge after losing control of the ball. Clear late tackle. Certain penalty here. And VAR confirms the call.
67' GOAL FOR BRIGHTON! They are level at 2-2 as Joao Pedro sends the 'keeper the wrong way again from the penalty spot. Awful errors by AEK. All happening out there at the moment.
84' GOAL FOR AEK ATHENS! What a night this is turning out to be for AEK as the visitors move 3-2 clear in a thriller at the Amex. Ezequiel Ponce slips the ball into the net from the Eliasson pass. Wow. Well. Nobody saw this coming.
Key Stat
- James Milner – the former Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Manchester City and Liverpool midfielder – made his 117th appearance in European competition before being replaced early in the second half by Tariq Lamptey due to injury. He is behind only Jamie Carragher (130), Paul Scholes (128), Frank Lampard (122) and John Terry (121) in the all-time list of English players in Europe and becomes the first man to appear for five different English clubs at continental level.
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